Self-photographing method for cameras

An improved self-photographing method for a camera having a plurality of operating modes, wherein the camera has an auto-focus system, a self-photographing mode, and an infinity photographing mode for setting the focus of said camera at infinity, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) determining whether a self-photographing mode has been set;
• b) determining whether said infinity photographing mode has been set;
• c) releasing said infinity photographing mode when said self-photographing mode is set before starting a self-photographing operation upon actuation of switch means for initiating a self-photographing operation of the camera;
• and
• d) releasing said infinity photographing mode when said infinity photographing mode is set after starting a self-photographing operation upon actuation of a switch means for initiating a self-photographing operation of the camera.

A self-photographing method for a camera with a plurality of self-photographing modes, comprising the steps of:

• a) setting a self-photographing mode in the camera and setting the number of the pictures to be taken in said self-photographing mode;
• b) actuating a switch means on the camera thereby initiating a self-photographing operation of the camera;
• c) measuring a subject distance at the beginning of said operation and storing in the camera a first distance datum corresponding to said subject distance;
• d) measuring successive second distance data of the same subject point as for the first distance datum at periodic intervals after storing said first distance datum;
• e) comparing said successive second distance data with said first distance datum at periodic intervals until at least one of said successive second distance data differs from said first distance datum;
• f) executing a first predetermined exposure operation of film in the camera a predetermined time interval after said first distance datum and said second distance data have differed from each other;
• g) determining whether the set number of the pictures have been taken after each exposure operation and thereafter executing an exposure operation at periodic intervals until the set number of the pictures have been taken;
• and
• h) terminating said self-photographing mode when said set number of the pictures have been taken.

A camera with a self-photographing mode, comprising:

• means for setting a self-photographing mode in the camera;
• switch means on the camera actuable to start a self-photographing operation of the camera;
• means for measuring a subject distance at the beginning of said operation;
• means for storing in the camera a first distance datum corresponding to said subject distance;
• means for detecting second distance data of the same subject point as for the first distance datum at periodic intervals after storing said first distance datum;
• means for comparing said first and second distance data to determine whether said distance data differ from each other;
• means for executing an exposure operation of film in the camera when said first and second distance data differ from each other;
• and
• means for terminating said self-photographing mode before said predetermined exposure operation when said second distance data have been equal to said first distance datum throughout a predetermined time interval.

A camera having a plurality of operating modes, wherein the camera has an auto-focus system, a self-photographing mode, and an infinity photographing mode for setting the focus of said camera at infinity, comprising

• a) means for determining whether a self-photographing mode has been set;
• b) means for determining whether said infinity photographing mode has been set;
• and
• c) means for releasing said infinity photographing mode when said self-photographing mode is set before starting a self-photographing operation upon actuation of switch means for initiating a self-photographing operation of the camera;
• and
• d) means for releasing said infinity photographing mode when said infinity photographing mode is set after starting a self-photographing operation upon actuation of a switch means for initiating a self-photographing operation of the camera.

A camera with a plurality of self-photographing modes, comprising

• a) means for setting a self-photographing mode in the camera and setting the number of the pictures to be taken in said self-photographing mode;
• b) switch means on the camera actuable to initiate a self-photographing operation of the camera;
• c) means for measuring a subject distance at the beginning of said operation and storing in the camera a first distance datum corresponding to said subject distance;
• d) means for measuring successive second distance data of the same subject point as for the first distance datum at periodic intervals after storing said first distance datum;
• e) means for comparing said successive second distance data with said first distance datum at periodic intervals until at least one of said successive second distance data differs from said first distance datum;
• f) means for executing a first predetermined exposure operation of film in the camera a predetermined time interval after said first distance datum and said second distance data have differed from each other;
• g) means for determining whether the set number of the pictures have been taken after each exposure operation and for thereafter executing an exposure operation at periodic intervals until the set number of the pictures have been taken;
• and
• h) means for terminating said self-photographing mode when said set number of the pictures have been taken.

A self-photographing method for a camera with a self-photographing mode, comprising the steps of:

• setting in the camera the number of pictures to be taken in a self-photographing operation before starting said self-photographing operation;
• determining whether said set number of pictures have been taken after each exposure operation;
• setting said self-photographing method in the camera;
• actuating a switch means on the camera thereby to start a self-photographing operation of the camera;
• measuring a subject distance at the beginning of said operation;
• storing in the camera a first distance datum corresponding to said subject distance;
• detecting second distance data of the same subject point as for the first distance datum at periodic intervals after storing said first distance datum;
• comparing said first and second distance data to determine whether said distance data differ from each other;
• executing an exposure operation of film in the camera when said first and second distance data differ from each other;
• wherein said self-photographing mode is terminated before said predetermined exposure operation when said second distance data have been equal to said first distance datum throughout a predetermined time interval.

A camera with a self-photographing mode, comprising:

• means for setting in the camera the number of pictures to be taken in a self-photographing operation before starting said self-photographing operation;
• means for determining whether said set number of pictures have been taken after each exposure operation;
• means for setting said self-photographing mode in the camera;
• switch means on the camera actuable to start a self-photographing operation of the camera;
• means for measuring a subject distance at the beginning of said operation;
• means for storing in the camera a first distance datum corresponding to said subject distance;
• means for detecting second distance data of the same subject point as for the first distance datum at periodic intervals after storing said first distance datum;
• means for comparing said first and second distance data to determine whether said distance data differ from each other;
• means for executing an exposure operation of film in the camera when said first and second distance data differ from each other;
• and
• means for terminating said self-photographing mode before said predetermined exposure operation when said second distance data have been equal to said first distance datum throughout a predetermined time interval.